Group E of 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Korea 1-2 Burkina Faso

Before the start of the game, there was already news of the elimination that they could not reach the round of 16, so our players didn’t look bright, but I still didn’t know they would lose this game. Based on major records such as ball occupancy (62% in Korea, 22% in Burkina Faso/ 16% in competition), pass success rate (90.87% 657/723 in Korea, 67.71% 151/223) in Burkina Faso, corner kicks (6 in Korea, 4 in Burkina Faso), and free kicks (13 in Korea, 11 in Burkina Faso), it was a game that took the lead, but only accepted a humble report card of losing three consecutive games.

South Korea’s under-17 men’s soccer team, led by head coach Byun Hyung-hwan, also lost 1-2 in the final game against Burkina Faso in Group E of the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup at 9 p.m. on the 18th (Saturday) at Shijalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia, ending the tournament with three losses (2 points and six points) and the lowest score.

There was no miracle of advancing to the round of 16

Mexico beat New Zealand 4-0 in the last game of Group F, which started about 2 hours and 15 minutes before our game, and the possibility of a round of 16 ticket for the third-ranked team in Group E disappeared. Of the teams ranked third in the six groups, only the top four teams in order of grades were given a place in the round of 16, as the winning team in the game had only three points.

Among the Asian qualifying teams (excluding the host Indonesia), Japan and Iran advanced to the round of 16 with two wins and one loss, and Uzbekistan with one win, one draw and one loss.

Our players wanted to beat Burkina Faso to protect their last pride because they had three history of going to the U-17 World Cup finals and reaching the quarterfinals. However, because the attack was as rough as in the previous games against the United States and France, it failed to produce the desired result even though it overwhelmed the opponent in ball possession or pass success rate.

The difference was also clear in the ability of defenders to cope with crisis situations. Burkina Faso left wing striker Jack Diara scored his first goal 24 minutes after the start of the game. Burkina Faso, who stole midfielder Cha Je-hoon’s build-up dribble mistake among Korea, began to run away with Valdeva’s assist pass and Jack Diara’s right-footed kick goal.

Burkina Faso’s counterattack using Jack Diarra’s fast space penetration came out almost the same seven minutes ago, revealing the limitations of our defenders in dealing with repeated dangerous situations. In the 31st minute, the crisis of additional runs led to a mistake by right fullback Lee Chang-woo, but goalkeeper Hong Sung-min managed to block Aruna Wattara’s left-footed shot.

The equalizer, which gave him the last hope, came shortly after the start of the second half. Captain Kim Myung-joon, who received a through pass from replacement Bae Sung-ho, kicked a right-footed equalizer with witty movement control skills.

Thanks to the second goal of this tournament, our players, who had hopes of turning around, boosted their momentum, but they collapsed by revealing the limitations of their defense skills several times. Burkina Faso goaltender Suleimane Alio’s diving header shot in the 59th minute was obviously a goal, but goalkeeper Hong Sung-min flew to his left and hit it amazingly, and center back Kim Yoo-gun’s incomprehensible dribble mistake in the 68th minute gave up a dizzying loss crisis.

In the end, our players got the winning goal in the 86th minute and kept their heads down. Abubakar Kamara, who received an assist pass from Suleimane Alio, kicked a right-footed diagonal shot. It was a moment when the cover play hole of the center backs looked too big.

Left midfielder Kim Hyun-min, who came in as a substitute in the second half, aimed for the equalizer with a right foot kick in the 90th minute, but goalkeeper Burkina Faso Isidor Traore flew up and hit with amazing momentum, leaving our players with zero points in the tournament.

Although it is a result theory, it remains a late regret that he failed to score an equalizer despite a one-sided attack in the second half in the second game of a 0-1 loss to France.

Still, it can be said that the fact that Kim Myung-jun, the protagonist of our team’s two goals in this tournament wearing a captain’s armband, left wing striker Yang Min-hyuk, Yoon Do-young, who is good at using his left foot, Jin Tae-ho, who has excellent dribbling skills, and Baek In-woo, a kicker dedicated to his right foot, are talented people who will continue to appear in the national team by age. 먹튀검증